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I don't understand why everyone is putting so much stock into the "importance" of KeSPA. SC2 is a global esport. Something Brood War struggled with. KeSPA doesn't have the leverage it used to because of this. With no LAN Blizzard can literally pull the plug on KeSPA tournaments.
If KeSPA switches to another game like LoL, what's keeping their players from switching to ESF teams or going abroad? I understand there's all kinds of lockout situations and contract issues involved at the moment. But don't those hinge on KeSPA playing SC2?
Not to mention SC2 has been doing fine without KeSPA. I understand their players switching over will increase interest in Korea. But I don't see how it's a requirement for SC2 to keep functioning.
Someone please correct me if I'm in the wrong. I'm having a real hard time seeing how KeSPA can do anything with Blizzard able to shut them down as far as Starcraft goes.
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with eSTRO gone im sure IEG have little to nothing to do with bw now
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Most sensible thing I have read thus far on the matter.
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On September 04 2012 13:34 babylon wrote:
Sometimes I wonder if the effort put into promoting SC2 in Korea is worth it. I almost feel as if Blizzard is fighting a losing battle there against a population that's bitter about the death of its "national sport"
I think it's a valid point, but I think it'll soon be clear that the casual gaming platforms (ie LoL, DOTA2, Angry Birds and the more casual brand of games) are a much bigger "threat" to the Korean gaming legacy, than SC2 will ever be.
The route Kespa have chosen, is to dedicate to the core concept of eSports, and of course, it is risky. Whether it is worth it or not is a toss-up at this point. Casual platforms have done big damage to eSports in the past, and most times (like with Halo or WoW:Arena), people either can't tell the difference, or can't see past the sky high viewer counts that casual platforms generate. A lot of people just give up and switch over (2GD and DJWheat both went from Quake to cast the now dead WoW:Arena).
I see Kespas dedication as confirmation that Koreans actually can tell the difference between the original eSports and these new "special" eSports.
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On September 04 2012 23:46 Eloot wrote:
I don't understand why everyone is putting so much stock into the "importance" of KeSPA. SC2 is a global esport. Something Brood War struggled with. KeSPA doesn't have the leverage it used to because of this. With no LAN Blizzard can literally pull the plug on KeSPA tournaments.
If KeSPA switches to another game like LoL, what's keeping their players from switching to ESF teams or going abroad? I understand there's all kinds of lockout situations and contract issues involved at the moment. But don't those hinge on KeSPA playing SC2?
Not to mention SC2 has been doing fine without KeSPA. I understand their players switching over will increase interest in Korea. But I don't see how it's a requirement for SC2 to keep functioning.
Someone please correct me if I'm in the wrong. I'm having a real hard time seeing how KeSPA can do anything with Blizzard able to shut them down as far as Starcraft goes.
Blizzard would rather see Kespa own Korea than shut them down completely in SC2.
Paychecks, it's not easy to make a buck in esports.
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Well then I have no idea, why GOM invited Kespa into its SC2 buissness.
We didn't need the Kespa players, most people don't even care, since most viewers are new customers to Starcraft, having no relation to SC1 proplay in Korea.
On the other hand, I can understand Kespa. They are basically doing the same as for instance NBA teams. They demand part of the revenue. They need it to pay players and the houses, they have expenses.
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On September 04 2012 12:59 motbob wrote:
Just like in 2007, KeSPA will be able to use their players as leverage in talks with GOM/Blizzard. The threat of withdrawal from GSL will be very real. KeSPA will be able to make new demands from a position of power. And if past relations between Blizzard/GOM and KeSPA are any indication, negotiations will fail and KeSPA will withdraw its players as a result. Last week, KeSPA chose to announce its non-participation in GSL right before the OSL Ro16, leaving them open to a counter-boycott. Next time around, they can choose better timing for their announcement of withdrawal.
So that's my prediction. A counterargument to this blog might be the idea that Blizzard will swoop in and threaten KeSPA with the shutdown of Proleague/OSL in order to convince them to send players to the GSL. However, I believe that this is extremely unlikely. If I were Blizzard, I would treat that kind of threat as a nuclear option -- one to be used as a last resort. A threat of total shutdown might be the cue for KeSPA to switch away from SC2 entirely. I think Blizzard is afraid of that possibility, given SC2's unpopularity in Korea. Blizzard Korea has also been seemingly ineffectual during this whole fiasco. They were caught completely off guard by KeSPA's actions and they did not release a public statement with any substance during the whole affair. Don't expect Blizzard to ride in on a white horse and save GSL in the event that KeSPA withdraws its players.
My theory is:
- Either way, Blizzard would benefit from having a KeSPA dominated Korean scene. I believe that since the big lawsuit was settled last year, KeSPA are paying Blizzard royalties on broadcasting StarCraft, and are probably doing the same with StarCraft II.
- Blizzard would have been more liberal with their usage of the battle.net killswitch on KeSPA but unfortunately for them, League of Legends has become a major threat in the Korean scene. If they stop OSL, The Champions will become the next big league in Korea.
- KeSPA's withdrawal from GSL and eSF's withdrawal from OSL would in turn segregate the Korean league system. It's very likely that OSL would remain almost-exclusively for KeSPA players and GSL for eSF/foreigners.
- The issue might even force KeSPA's wirthdrawal from future Battle.net World Championship Series. They'll probably focus on WCG and the occasional MLG instead or entirely ignore the foreigner scene.
- The only way KeSPA can be defeated is a collective boycott of OnGameNet from Korean netizens. The withdrawal from GSL seemed to piss a lot of people off but I mean if KeSPA really pulled some nasty shit against GOM. I think that this will be the only way to really kick them in the nutsack, if Korean netizens spoke with their wallet, stopped paying for cable or just stopped watching OGN and switched over to GOM. This of course will never happen because internet boycotts have never succeeded and the type of slacktivism that comes out from the world wide web is effectively worthless.
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I think you underestimate Blizzards strength. If Blizzard shuts down the OSL/PL all those SC players are out of work. I do not think the KeSPA players are forced to stay with their respective teams if KeSPA decides to abandon SC2. They most likely would retire, build new teams or get picked up by GOM teams. And I can´t imagine old BW watcher would start watching the low-skill MOBA LoL all of the sudden. They would just switch to GOM as well, after all their production is not worse.
I still think Blizzard sits at the longer end of the stick.
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Gomtv is already providing an inferior product (quality wise) with an inferior media in Korea and ppl want them to succeed?
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If KeSPA is forced to switch games what will the players, their most powerful assets, do? If the stars settle for way less money and a lot start to get into new teams will that be an overall good outcome? Will OGN stay with StarCraft2 and if so how would the license gap be filled? Maybe the GSL open code A qualifier becomes the new courage.
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On September 04 2012 18:17 Nikon wrote:
The question is: why do we need GomTV at all? KeSPA has opened up to foreigner exposure now, and they're less likely to make shady bussiness decisions when concerning the customer. Plus they have OGN at their back, thus getting better production values and such.
And they have the more recognised players. Say what you want to say about Iron and ZergBong, but even SC2 viewers know the TBLS, Fantasy and such.
actually atm the better production value goes to GOM by far. Their map previews are amazing, their graphics are cleaner and more modern etc and they broadcast in 16: 9 all the time, OSL only go 16: 9 when in game. GOM is also cheaper despite the fact that they provide the bandwidth themselves instead of using twitch. Unless the quality of play becomes way better in OSL than GSL, I think GOM will remain the main SC2 broadcaster.
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On September 05 2012 00:55 sAsImre wrote:
Gomtv is already providing an inferior product (quality wise) with an inferior media in Korea and ppl want them to succeed?
For a global audience actually Gomtv has always provided a superior product.
I think the only reason people actually support Kespa is that they were running BW for so long controlling all the big names. If people learn to dissociate games from the organizations then only we can have a proper discussion on this.
It seems people wanting Gom to fail are happy with rebroadcasted 240p streams, lack of VODs and totally ignoring any foreign viewers.
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Hey I just wanted to point out that you said all but one GSL player pledged to backup, the last one being Oz. I am pretty certain that he said he would boycott it as well, it's just that Fnatic is not part of the ESF so his name wasn't included in their declaration.
edit: Actually, I guess I am not 100% sure about this.
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i don't see how there's people supporting kespa in this thread and implying we don't need gom
the perks you enjoy currently from gom will be non existant if kespa take over
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OGN might also just be main sponsor of GSL, broadcast it in Korea, let GOM do the international buisness and ditch Kespa.
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So kespa just made up bullshit broadcasting rights? And they got away with it? The hell?! How does that hold up legally?
Either way, as long as GOM can keep the casters they have and still provide high level games, I could care less about the BW-pros. If kespa decide to be dicks again, I won't watch their stuff. There's enough SC2 around as is anyway.
We shouldn't forget that we, the viewers, have leverage too: our eyes and our wallets.
I doubt we'd be able to get a large-scale boycott going.. but hey, supposedly miracles can happen.
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I feel like KeSPA players should boycott if things get bad enough. I'm sure they want to be able to participate in multiple leagues. I don't think anything will change with KeSPA unless it comes from within.
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On September 05 2012 00:55 sAsImre wrote:
Gomtv is already providing an inferior product (quality wise) with an inferior media in Korea and ppl want them to succeed?
Maybe because GOM don't act like assholes? Ethics/morals/whatever, Frenchmen! Or are you OK the kind of business kespa does/did?
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
On September 04 2012 23:11 ParkwayDrive wrote:
arent most of you still assuming that enough kespa players will actually catch up in sc2?
osl is always gonna need GOM players for sc2. GOM wont NEED kespa players for at least 6-12 months. Also, kespa needs their whole teams to be competitive in order for GOM to need them long term. if only one or 2 kespa players truly breakout in this intial 6 month period they may just get picked up by GOM teams eventually if their own kespa team is struggling. and the kespa just dissolves or moves on to something else.
like in the OP, the only tangible asset that kespa has/had are its players. if enough of them dont step up and break into code s/a then they will have less assets and less power.
I think kespa and their players believe they will completely dominate esf players in 6 months. Which will allow them to pull out of gom because all the best players will play on OGN anyways.
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I guess the thing that makes me feel that this won't be AS serious as 2007/09 is that Kespa isn't right now getting any larger, isn't snatching up any new talent, whereas the player base outside of Kespa is larger, and has a lot more growth potential. The value of Kespa's talent pool will peak soon (now that Kespa pros are playing sc2 more or less exclusively), and will begin to decline thereafter. As more fresh talent, unafiliated with Kespa continues to enter the scene.
I suppose they could open up their teams, but I think that's a whole new can of worms.
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EPT
